How to Make Homemade Hand Sanitizer w/ Alcohol & Aloe Vera
When it comes to staying healthy and avoiding germs, nothing beats good old-fashioned proper handwashing. Soap, water, and scrubbing is one of the best ways to clean your hands of all sorts of bacteria, viruses, or grime. But what if you can’t get to a sink right away? That is when portable hand sanitizer comes to the rescue! Read along to learn how to make your own effective homemade hand sanitizer, using only two ingredients: rubbing alcohol and aloe vera gel.
This article will teach you how to make homemade hand sanitizer a couple of different ways, depending on whether you have a bottle of 91 to 99% strength alcohol, or the 70% alcohol version. Both recipes are strong enough to kill the current coronavirus when used correctly. Also, you can use either fresh aloe vera plant leaves or bottled aloe vera gel for this hand sanitizer recipe – whatever you have access to!
Why make homemade hand sanitizer?
There are a number of reasons that you may want to make your own hand sanitizer at home. One timely reason is the current COVID-19 global pandemic that is happening as I write this article. Every store and internet outlet is sold out of hand sanitizer! Aaron works at a grocery store and is risking daily exposure right now. Under normal circumstances we personally don’t use hand sanitizer very often, but I wanted to make some for him to bring to work during this crazy time.
Beyond the current state of affairs, creating homemade hand sanitizer has several perks! By making your own, you have the ultimate control over the ingredients that go into it. Also, if you like to regularly use hand sanitizer, making homemade hand sanitizer “in bulk” and filling reusable bottles is a great way to reduce plastic waste that the tiny disposable bottles create.
Is homemade hand sanitizer effective at killing viruses & bacteria?
This recipe creates a hand sanitizer that is 60-70% alcohol. According to the Center for Disease Control, hand sanitizer containing at least 60% alcohol is effective at killing the novel COVID-19 coronavirus, along with many other types of viruses, bacteria, and germs. That is, when it is used correctly! See the instructions on how to properly use hand sanitizer in the sections to follow.
However, please note that alcohol-based hand sanitizer doesn’t kill every type of pathogen that may make you sick in other circumstances. For example, it does not kill or remove germs like Cryptosporidium, norovirus, and Clostridium difficile. If you aren’t familiar with it, norovirus is the highly-contagious bad guy that causes the “24 hour flu”. Chlorine bleach is the only thing that kills norovirus.
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HOMEMADE HAND SANITIZER RECIPE
Supplies & Ingredients Needed
- Rubbing alcohol, aka isopropyl alcohol. 91 to 99% strength is preferred. You can also use 70% alcohol if that is all you have, though you won’t be able to use as much aloe vera in the recipe – in order to keep the alcohol content up to 60% as desired.
- Aloe vera gel. Adding aloe vera gel to homemade hand sanitizer provides moisture and nourishment to help balance the harsh drying effects of alcohol. It also adds some thickness to your hand sanitizer for easier and more effective application, adding to the important contact time of alcohol on your skin. We use fresh aloe vera from the garden, though you can use bottled aloe vera gel from the store too. Be sure to get aloe GEL though, and not a lotion! Aloe vera plants grow easily outdoors in frost-free climates. If you don’t grow your own, you might be able to find some leaves around your neighborhood or at the local grocery store. See the instructions and video below to see how to extract the inner gel from a fresh aloe vera leaf.
- Essential oils (optional). Many essential oils have been shown to exhibit natural anti-microbial and anti-viral properties, thanks to their terpenes and the plants that they’re derived from. Therefore, rosemary, eucalyptus, cinnamon, lavender, tea tree, citrus, thyme, and oregano (among others) are all useful and welcome additions to homemade hand sanitizer. Along with fighting germs, they provide a nice aroma. We love and use this mix-pack of certified-organic essential oils.
- A small spray bottle, squeeze bottle, or other storage container.
Extracting Fresh Aloe Vera Gel
If you are using fresh aloe vera in this recipe, you’ll want to use only the inner gel portion of the leaf – leaving the fibrous outer skin behind. Watch the quick video demonstration below to see my trick on how to easily do this! (Don’t mind the blender with whole-leaf chunks in the video… we were making an aloe soil drench to feed our plants with. See this article to learn more about growing and using aloe vera in the garden.
Instructions
To make homemade hand sanitizer, simply mix rubbing alcohol with aloe vera at the recommended concentrations in the chart below. Bottled aloe vera gel and rubbing alcohol may be combined by vigorously whisking them together in a bowl. However, if you’re using fresh aloe vera you will definitely want to use a blender to thoroughly mix the hand sanitizer. If you choose to use essential oils, add just a few drops.
How to Make 60% Alcohol Hand Sanitizer
| Using 91% to 99% rubbing alcohol | Using 70% rubbing alcohol |
| Use 2 parts alcohol to 1 part aloe vera gel | Dilute the alcohol by no more than 10% |
| Example: 1 cup alcohol & ½ cup aloe vera, or 2 cups alcohol & 1 cup aloe vera. | Example: 3 cups alcohol & ⅓ cup aloe vera, or 5 cups alcohol & ½ cup aloe vera. |
Be careful to not over-dilute the alcohol (use too much aloe) by any more than listed on the chart! The given concentrations will create a hand sanitizer that is just over 60% alcohol – the minimum needed to kill coronavirus.
Once the aloe vera and alcohol are thoroughly combined or blended, transfer your homemade hand sanitizer to a spray or squeeze bottle of choice. We reused a few travel-size amber spray bottles that we had around the house, and stored the extra in a glass mason jar for refills. You can store any leftovers in the refrigerator for later use, or simply in a dark cool place. The alcohol preserves the aloe, though it will turn a slight pink hue over prolonged exposure to the light. That is okay, and normal.
If you use 91 to 99% strength alcohol, your finished hand sanitizer will be slightly thicker and may work in a squeeze bottle. Otherwise, plan to use a spray bottle for easy application of more liquid-like sanitizer.
How to Properly Use Hand Sanitizer
When soap and water are not readily available, use your hand sanitizer instead! First, shake before use in case the aloe separately slight. Then spray or squeeze a generous amount of hand sanitizer into the palm of your hand. Next, rub it around until all surfaces of both hands are thoroughly wetted. I like to use a lot.
Pay special attention to finger tips, fingernails, between fingers, and even the backs of your hands. Continue rubbing your hands together (like you’re washing your hands) until they feel dry. Yet don’t wave your hands about to make it “dry faster”. A long wet contact time is good! Because alcohol can dry your skin out, you may want to follow up with hand lotion after sanitizing.
The CDC says that effectiveness of hand sanitizer decreases when hands are heavily soiled with dirt or grease. Thus, they recommend washing your hands with soap and water in those circumstances instead.
So simple, right?
In closing, I hope this quick tutorial on homemade hand sanitizer will help many of you and your families stay healthy! Please let me know if you have any questions. Also feel free to share this article with your friends and family. Stay safe out there.
Homemade Hand Sanitizer with Alcohol and Aloe Vera (effective against COVID-19)
Equipment
- Blender (recommended)
- Small travel-size bottles
- Larger storage bottle for extra
Ingredients
Using 91 to 99% strength rubbing alcohol
- 2 parts 91-99% alcohol. For example, 1 cup alcohol
- 1 part Pure aloe vera gel. For example: 1/2 cup of aloe gel (not aloe vera lotion)
Using 70% strength rubbing alcohol
- 3 cups 70% alcohol
- 1/3 cup Pure aloe vera gel. NO more than 1/3 cup*
Instructions
Making Homemade Hand Sanitizer
- Combine rubbing alcohol and pure aloe vera gel in ratios described above.
- You may scale up both ingredients to create a larger batch, but maintain the same ratios (For example, it is okay to use 2 cups of 99% alcohol and 1 cup aloe vera gel. OR 5 cups of 60% rubbing alcohol and 1/2 cup aloe vera.)
- Add a few drops of essential oils of choice, such as lavender, rosemary, eucalyptus, cinnamon, tea tree, citrus, thyme, lemongrass or oregano.
- If using fresh aloe vera leaf, peel away the skin and use only the inner gel. See the demonstration video in the body of this article.
- It may be possible to combine bottled aloe vera gel and alcohol by whisking vigorously in a bowl. We use fresh aloe vera, and blend it in a Vitamix blender. A blender is recommended for the most smooth and combined homemade hand sanitizer. It should not clog your bottle.
- Once thoroughly combined/blended, add the finished homemade hand sanitizer to a travel size spray or squeeze bottle of choice. Note that this recipe will create a fairly thin, sprayable hand sanitizer (rather than a thick gel). Store the excess in a cool dark location.
- Store the excess in a cool dark location. Fresh leaf aloe vera gel may turn light pink when exposed to light, but it is not "going bad". The alcohol effectively preserves it.
Using Homemade Hand Sanitizer Correctly
- Shake before use.
- Spray or squeeze a generous amount of hand sanitizer into the palm of your hand. I put quite a lot on.
- Next, rub it around until all surfaces of both hands are thoroughly wetted. Pay special attention to finger tips, fingernails, between fingers, and even the backs of your hands.
- Rub your hands together (like you’re washing your hands) until they feel dry. Yet don’t wave your hands about to make it “dry faster”. A long wet contact time is good!
Notes
42 Comments
Anitra D Barnes
Does it spoil. Or does the alcohol preserve it?
DeannaCat
Hello Anitra, it doesn’t spoil due to the alcohol. We make about a quart at a time and it lasts for months, it may turn slightly pink with time as I believe it is a reaction with the aloe being exposed to light although it has no negative effect on the product. Thanks for reading and good luck!
David Jenkins
i just blended the whole leaf with %100 alcohol ,its green but it should be ok when strained or not ??my leaves are to small to just get the juice
Aaron (Mr. DeannaCat)
Hey David, you can strain the alcohol and aloe vera or just use the sanitizer in a squeeze type bottle or a bottle with a slightly larger opening. Unfortunately the outside of the aloe vera leaf will clog most fine mist sprayers. Hope that helps and thanks for tuning in!
Cathy
I make this for my husband. It’s the only kind he likes to use. I make 4 oz at a time using 91% alcohol and the green aloe vera gel. I use lemon essential oil and a few drops of tee tree. It turns out perfect every time. Thanks for the recipe!
DeannaCat
Awesome, thanks for the feedback Kathy! This is the only kind we like to use around here too! We’re glad it’s working out for you. Thanks for reading!
Lithole
Where can I buy the alcohol 90/70% alcohol thanks
Aaron (Mr. DeannaCat)
Any store such as Rite Aid, CVS, Walgreens, Target etc. Some places are sold out due to COVID 19 but we have found success at our local Rite Aid and CVS store. You could use strong liquor as well though it needs to be strong, for example 151 proof which is equivalent to 75% alcohol or 190 proof which is 95% alcohol. Most standard liquor is not strong enough.
Bernadette
I love your recipe. One question for you how many drops of essential oil? also can I add vitamin E? I heard from someone that’s good for your hands not to dry out?
DeannaCat
Hey there! We made a huge batch so we added at least a dozen drops of lavender EO. I didn’t specify and left it as “a few drops” because it varies depending on personal preference of strength of smell, and also the type used. Lavender is one that can be applied directly to skin and not diluted in a carrier oil/solution so you can go heavier with it safely. Other oils like peppermint, eucalyptus, citrus etc are more strong and also usually cannot be applied directly, so we usually use less of those types. And yes, you could add vitamin E oil but again don’t want to do too much to throw off the right concentration of alcohol (and the oil may not fully mix/emulsify with the aloe/alcohol anyways) so I would suggest no more than half a teaspoon per cup of hand sanitizer. Thanks for reading and for the feedback!
Daniel Asiegbu
If I do not have easy access to aloevera plant or the bottled gel, can I use Antilsol gel as an alternative? If not, then what are some alternatives to aloevera gel for home made sanitizer?
Aaron (Mr. DeannaCat)
Hi Daniel, unfortunately there isn’t an alternative to aloe vera that I feel comfortable recommending. The bottled gel is fairly accessible to most people as many types of stores carry it in some capacity. The aloe is mainly to keep your hands moisturized while drying them out with the alcohol. You could just use alcohol as the sanitizer and have lotion or some other type of moisturizer to use afterwards to keep your hands from drying out too much. Good luck!
Debs Barker
Hi I was just wondering how thick it should be when it’s properly mixed. I’ve used the 2:1 ratio but it’s still fully liquid and I’m not sure if it’s supposed to be a gel-like consistency or not? Thanks!
DeannaCat
Hi Deb – We used 70% alcohol so ours was even more diluted and liquid-like. Therefore we definitely need to use a spray bottle for application, not a squeeze tube! Liquid-y is normal. Thanks for reading!
Bethany! McMorris
I used your recipe, with fresh aloe and I’m happy with the results. I was also reading other recipes and one said the self-life was one week for the same recipe; for real??? How long do you suggest?
Bethany! McMorris
I read the other comments and got my answer…Honestly, I crack myself up!!
Millie
I only could find 50% alcohol how much aloe can I use?
DeannaCat
Hi Millie, I am afraid that isn’t strong enough to kill COVID 19. It needs to be at least 60% alcohol content, so that isn’t strong enough to be effective even undiluted.
Heidi Barron
Great recipe!! Thanks!!
DeannaCat
If you can get your hands on everclear alcohol or drinking alcohol over 60%, that would work. It would need to be “120 Proof” or stronger.
Danielle Randall
Hi there! Thank you for all your wonderful info and resources! Since fresh aloe gel is used, does it need to be refrigerated and does it expire relatively quickly?
DeannaCat
Hi! The alcohol is a strong preservative so it can be out at room temp. We do have to shake ours before use since it tends to separate just a tad. I’m not sure how “nutritious” the aloe stays in alcohol, but for this use, the aloe is mostly here to help increase the contact time the alcohol is on your hands (important) and provide a little extra moisture. I hope that helps!
Beatriz
Can I make it without a blender? Maybe pushing the mixture through a strainer?
Aaron (Mr. DeannaCat)
Hi Beatriz, it think that is a viable option if you don’t have a blender. The aloe in your final product may just have a few more chunks than when using a blender but it should still be effective. Good luck!
Brandon Snuggs
This recipe will work, but I would suggest adding a huge disclaimer for somebody using 91% isopropyl alcohol. When using that 2:1 ratio with %91 alcohol, it leaves the effective strength of the mixture at 60.67%. That leaves very little margin for error if somebody adds a little too much aloe.
After doing the math, if you add so much as half an ounce more of aloe (exactly .57 oz) to that recipe with 91% isopropyl, the mixture will no longer be effective. I added the spreadsheet I used to do the math on this, so anyone can correct my math if it’s wrong.
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1Xd66QyNNeTwR7uQY422N21omAC2uz-jvcOBrv1vmOzo/edit?usp=sharing
Be safe out there everyone.
Rachael
Could you use alcohol/liquor instead of isopropyl? We bought a 95% Everclear to make a sanitizer spray..
DeannaCat
Great question! As long as you pay attention the actual alcohol content percentage (not going off of “proof” ratings on alcohol, which are different) then yes you can use drinking alcohol for this recipe!
Tracie Edwards
This is made from real aloe can you store just sitting out or do you have to refrigerate it
DeannaCat
The alcohol content is so high that is essentially preserves the aloe, and can be left out at room temp. Using an amber/dark bottle or keeping it in the dark will help prevent the aloe from turning a slight pink hue, though it is still effective either way.
Kim S
Hi Deanna! Hope you and the boys are well! I was just wondering if aloe juice would also work! I am all out of gel but remembered I have an unopened bottle of the aloe juice from Whole Foods in the back of my pantry (not the sugary drink one, the cylindrical glass bottle one of just plain juice they sell in the supplement area.)
DeannaCat
I think so! I think that is supposed to be refrigerated once opened, but the alcohol would help preserve it! Better than nothing right now. Stay safe!
Samantha
Hi, I was just wondering if I was to use fresh Aloe Vera, how long will the sanitizer stay good for? Does the Rubbing Alcohol preserve it?
Thanks
DeannaCat
Hi Samantha – Yes the alcohol preserves the aloe, and should be fine for as long as you need to use it! Ours started to separate a little bit after a few days but it blends back together when shaking.
Alan Genser
How do you thoroughly blend/mix the aloe gel so you do not leave unmixed gel at the bottom of your bowl?
DeannaCat
We used a blender!
Nari
Hi!
Have you ever had any issues with it crystallizing or something coagulating in the bottle after the sanitizer has been made? I blended it, strained it and a day or two later, something coagulated in the bottle. I’m not sure what I did wrong. Do I need to blend longer? Please help…
DeannaCat
Hi there! If you shake it up before use, that should easily dissipate/mix. Sometimes the aloe makes a cloudy looking spot but it isn’t actually congealed, in our experience. Good luck!